Erito - Rina Kawamura - Best Friend-s Girlfrien... -

Erito sees them at a convenience store. Kaito, his hair longer, his shoulders looser. And beside him, a woman who is not Rina—a cheerful, round-faced woman with a baby strapped to her chest. Kaito laughs at something she says, and the sound is genuine. He has healed.

“Don’t,” Kaito said. His voice was flat. Empty. “I don’t want your apology. I want to understand. Was I that terrible? Was I that easy to betray?”

The air left the room. Erito felt the floor tilt. He had rehearsed this moment a hundred times in the shower, in his car, in the five seconds between sleep and waking. In every rehearsal, he was noble. He stood up, apologized, and walked out. Erito - Rina Kawamura - Best friend-s girlfrien...

“And yet, he doesn’t see me. Not really. He sees a girlfriend. A role. You… you look at me like I’m a painting you’re trying to understand.”

“I know,” he replied, and kissed her again. Erito sees them at a convenience store

“I’m sorry,” Erito said. The words felt like gravel.

“And yet?” Erito’s voice was a whisper. Kaito laughs at something she says, and the sound is genuine

That was all.